Jimi Hendrix Plays Vienna Wiener Konzerthaus

American guitarist Jimi Hendrix and his band the Experience came to Germany in January 1969 for a European tour. Vintage Rock Posters is searching for original concert posters and tour blanks produced by Gunther Kieser. The promoter was Lippmann + Rau, whose name is printed just below Hendrix's on each poster's top.

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It's been over 50 years since Jimi Hendrix and the Experience came to Vienna with two performances at the Konzerthaus on January 22, 1969. The first set in Vienna is great. The only song played from "Electric Ladyland" is the opener, a fast version of "Come On, Part 1," Jimi's vocals are tremendous, and he rips a fantastic, frenetic solo. There is a massive ovation after the band plays a muscular version of "Hey Joe." The Experience then plays "Hear My Train A Coming" soft. The evening's best song is "Spanish Castle Magic," Hendrix easily goes from linear playing dropping down into heavy bombasts then back to linear. In the middle, he moves to a funky Voodoo Child like jam that leads to a fine Mitch Mitchell drum solo and a brief Noel Redding bass jam. "Foxy Lady" is very heavy with swagger, and the whole song reeks of sexuality. The band timing is a bit off on "Stone Free," and ends the first set with "Purple Haze."

The second set starts with The Experience taking the stage, tuning, and turning the volume down. They start the show with a marvelous version of "Are You Experienced." The playing is ethereal with a psychedelic and dreamlike feel to it. Next is a blistering version of "Fire." The band plays "Lover Man" a little loose. Hendrix goes where he wants, with Noel and Mitch trying their best to keep up. They do an instrumental take on Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love." The tempo is faster than The Cream's, and Noel does a Jack Bruce style of lead bass playing. The second set ends with a fiery version of "Spanish Castle Magic, with Jimi soloing into the stratosphere.

The set list below is for the first show.

  • Come On (Part I)

  • Hey Joe

  • Fire

  • Hear My Train a Comin'

  • Spanish Castle Magic

  • Foxy Lady

  • Stone Free

  • Purple Haze

The second set list could not be found.

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Andrew Hawley